Helping you get back to studies Martine CARETTE Continuing training department Lille 1 University

As part of their service to the public, higher education institutions offer various continuing training positions to differents publics. Students come from various backgrounds. 4

Universities for instance run courses for people currently working and:  on a training programme,  on personal re-training leave,  using the national entitlement for personal re-training,  still acquiring a professional qualification,  on a professional skills contract,  on a state-aided contract

The unemployed:  Through Jobcentre Plus,  Entitled to re-training leave,  Entitled to State or Regional government benefits for an approved internship,  Entitled to region-specific allocations,  Entitled to study grants from CROUS (Regional centre in charge of helping students : housing, food, sports, medical care…)

And others:  Those wanting to train outside office hours  Stay-at-home mums  Those on parental leave  Those on unpaid leave  Pensioners  Freelance workers  Those on income support (training can be part of helping them back to work)

All these people have different requirements but are equal in the eyes of labour law. This means that universities have certain responsibilities.

What training institutions must do Training institutions must agree to a number of measures regarding trainees in the field of:  Receipt of information or information requests  Setting out house rules  Socials rights of the trainees

Other measures involve:  What happens at the end of a vocational training contract  Taking on trainees who have obtained training authorisation from Regional government or the State

In order to provide the best service, training institutions often set up specific information desks and career advice with carefully trained personnel. This task is often carried out by the vocational training department

Dealing with those wishing to re-train: There are various tools available to help those wishing to re-train: Various measures relating to employment Existing guidance on vocational training Lifelong learning

A common approach to these measures:  Services taylored to personal needs  Help in managing your career  Flexible training periods that suit changing economic requirements

What tools are available to trainees?  Validating Acquired Experience  Personal skills review  Professional interviews

Traditional training requests made to universities have changed a lot:  Today, people are no longer just asking to be trained but need help in managing their careers. That's why : Suggestions are taylored to people's individual needs,

This means:  we need to study the person's needs carefully taking everything into account,  We need to help that person make sense of their career so far which can sometimes seem very random,  We need to move away from offering just training to offering a range of services which includes training amongst other things

We need to use all available resources:  Validating professional and personal experience  Validating acquired experience  Training  other career advice tools, reviews, work analysis, …

VAE in universities: how does it work?  Universities can "award" qualifications on behalf of the State.  They therefore have to set up VAE juries for all relevant qualifications.

VAE in French Universities Universities offer all the relevant services to implement this system:  An information desk  Making sure a request is valid  Providing counselling(optional)  Organising jury hearings  Following up partial validations

Towards lifelong learning… The European Universities' Charter on lifelong learning (EUA) states the importance in article 4 of: « Providing appropriate guidance and counselling services » It is clear then that this must be at the core of lifelong learning

This service must therefore be provided.

There are various ways to do this: through pooled vocational training services through other services by burden sharing between different university departments The registrar's office, The university department for professional career advice and information, other services.

Formation des responsables de service de formation continue – 30 et 31 octobre 2008 Lille 1 University's continuing training centre

It was set up thanks to a strong policy Its aims are clearly identified within the university It is the point of entry to any vocational training enquiry

It works within the university network as a whole and with: The Registrar's office The University department for professional career advice and information The Exams department Training and research centres, other educational institutes …

What does it do?  Acts as a helpdesk and information point for enquiries  Maps out training paths with training supervisors  Implements the Validating professional and personal experience bill of 1985 (VAPP 85)  Assists and advises those undertaking training  Provides assessment

It's a one-stop-shop for vocational training candidates :  For applications  For registration  And for all relevant administrative requirements

Since 2002: It has become the University's Validation of Acquired Experience centre

The centre provides the following services for VAE:  Information for candidates  Information packs  Pre-application approval with relevant training supervisors  Expert specialist advice

Convening a jury Follow up and compliance with requirements Replies to various VAE surveys

It also does the following: Is authorised by several official training funds for technicians and managers to carry out personal skills reviews.

 It is recognised by regional bodies specialised in dealing with applications that are level IV and above  It is the main public service in this field

Funding comes through compulsory contributions from vocational training But also through specific services offered:  Through regional government offices for career information and advice  Through contracts with Jobcentre Plus…

The specific services offered:  Personal Skills Reviews  Advanced Personal Skills Reviews funded by the unemployment office  The unemployment office's Group Project Objectives  Outsourced services for AFPA (help in finding the right training project)  10 modules funded by regional government

Module 1 « Advanced interview to analyse needs and draw up a contract » Module 2 « Aims/Supporting an application/Values » Module 3 « Skills » Module 4 « Project methodology » Module 5 « Project management »

Module 6 « accessing resources » Module 7 « defining the training project » Module 8 « Getting to know the university and how to study » Module 9 « Getting to know the professional world » Module 10 « Final interview »

This permanent service is available at all universities throughout the area

The Staff It's all about teamwork:  Training supervisors  Occupational psychologists  Teachers

Formation des responsables de service de formation continue – 30 et 31 octobre 2008 Thank you for your attention